My Ruin to You - Chapter 40

“Indulging you like this will only make you bolder.”

Between her panting breaths, kisses rained over her flushed cheeks and forehead—each one a brand.

“Maybe because I could finally breathe again.”

As her ragged breaths steadied, the absurdity of their position struck her—trapped in his arms, sharing warmth. Why did I stop him? And why is he going this far? Anger simmered low in her chest.

“Were you really going to His Majesty?”

“Do you truly want to be Empress?”

“No.”

“Then neither was I.”

His murmur tickled the nape of her neck, where his nose still nuzzled as his fingers traced idle patterns down her spine.

“I don’t want this. Stop.”

She turned her face away as his lips traveled from her throat to her ear, then her cheek. When she tried to pry the thick arms locked around her waist, they only tightened, yanking her closer until his teeth scraped her nape. He surveyed the mark left on her fair skin with satisfaction before finally stepping back.

“Fine. What should I do for you, then?”

His fingers trailed her jawline before tilting her chin up. Though his smile was soft, his gaze was unyielding.

Hovering just close enough to kiss, he studied her reactions like a predator circling prey.

“Let me go.”

She slapped his hand away icily. Valen clicked his tongue, rolling it against his cheek before quirking a hardened smile.

“Ah. Time to crawl back already?”

“If you hate me crawling, then do nothing. I don’t want to be disappointed by you again.”

“Perfect. I’ve no desire to be cruel to you either.”

“You call this not cruel?”

“How could I not know?”

A quiet sigh escaped him. He pressed a thumb between her furrowed brows, smoothing the tension there, then brushed her cheek with startling gentleness.

“That’s why I came to the banquet. Because you were there. For you.”

“……”

“To see you. To take you back.”

“……”

“Enough stubbornness, Roseline.”

Now’s the moment to yield. She knew.

Silence now would bring ease—no more fretting over a future in ruins, no dread of exposed vulnerabilities. A small compromise, and everything would settle.

Yet—

Suddenly, her stepmother’s scolding echoed in her mind, “Your rebellious streak is exhausting.” Back then, she hadn’t understood. But maybe that defiance was in her blood. How else could she hear the near-desperation in his voice and still fixate on questions like, How did he know I’d attend? How long has he been watching me?

“…Come to think of it—when I refused your proposal, Your Highness never even asked why.”

Roseline’s voice was quiet, steady.

“Back then, I didn’t understand. But now I do. My circumstances, my reasons—none of it ever mattered to you, did it?”

Valen’s expression didn’t shift.

“What are you trying to say?”

“Do you just need an obedient lover who’ll follow your every whim?”

Her unflinching gaze met his. For a moment, he simply tilted his head, studying her—then withdrew his hand with a low, incredulous laugh.

“When have you ever obeyed me?”

Roseline blinked. Her composure wavered, eyes darting briefly as if mentally rifling through memories. Have I really never listened? But the realization struck her. No. I haven’t. Yet that wasn’t the point.

“Then is this about taming me? Because I won’t submit?”

“Don’t be absurd.”

“I don’t understand you.” Her voice frayed at the edges. “If you loved me, you wouldn’t go this far. How is any of this love?”

A muscle jumped along his sharp jawline. His smirk was crooked, but his eyes were devoid of warmth—steel-blue and frigid.

“Are you trying to make me drag you back on your knees?”

“Even crawling won’t get me there now.”

“Roseline.”

“You made me this way.” Her breath hitched, words trembling. “You should’ve let me stay ignorant. But I know now. I know exactly how terrifying you are. So how—” She swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in her throat. “How could I ever stand beside you after that?”